The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-07-27
OUR. WASHINGTON LETTER.

iis WASHINGTON, D. q. July IS, 1887.
The officials at the Signal Service
Bureau report that With but q single
exception, Monday last was the hottest
day that has been experienced in Wash
iington since that Bureau has been in
existence. AZ mid day, thermometers in
various parts of the city indicated the
temperature to be from 100 TO 107
degrees, while thermometer placed
upon the asphalt pavement and exposed
to- the rays Of the sun registered 1874
degrees. This extreme heat resulted in
the almost universal suspension Of work
upon. buildings in course Of construction,
and sin:sasyeral Of the Departments the
clerks were dismissed at an early hour
for the. day. Although there we're
numerous instances in which persons
were overcome by the heat, there were
but few cases which resulted fatally.
Fortunately, the extremely high temper;
ature was Of short duration, and was
succeeded BY q cool wave, which render.
ed life much more enjoyable.
The work upon the new terraces, and
the magnificent staircase at the west
front Of Che Capitol is being pushed for;
ward as rapidly as possible, the only
interruption being that occasioned by
the excessively hot weather. The work
has reached that point which renders it
necessary to remove the fountain as we'll
as The oval 6sb pond, which it will be
remembered occupied the space between
the old staircase wings. The old foun-
tain and basin. together with the beauti.
ful gold fish which for many years have
been admired by visitors, who have
rarely passed the basin without stopping
for moment 10 admire the countless
bits Of animated gold, as they darted
about 10 the clear water Of the basin,
will be removed to the grounds Of the
National Insane Asylum near the city.
!. II is said at the State Department that
the number of Americans Who have left
this country for Europe, has never before
been equalled ID the. history Of the De.
.partment. II is estimated that 25,00O
sonrists have sailed from the United
States since the first Of April. The
records Of the department show that
more than four thousand passports we're
issued during the months of April, May,
June and the early part of July, and
more than four: fths Of the tourists sail
without passports. This unusually large
exodus is probably to be in . measure
accounted for by the recent jubilee ce:e.
bration Of Queen Victoria. A majority
Of those who have applied for passports
are Germans, who desire to be protected
against the army regulations Of the
fatherland, while Americans who intend
visiting Turkey, Russia, Italy or Spain,
invariably procure passports before leav:
ing the United States, as the regulations
Of these countries are sometimes severe
upon tourists. -.
The count Of coin and other securities,
which has been in progress at the Treas:
.ury Department since May 2Srd, was
completed during the past week.
Although upon examination Of the bags
in the silver vaults it was found ths.
several Of the bags were short two OF
three pieces, each ofthese were gradually
recovered during the: progress OF the
count. until all rere found, and the COM
.mittee reported that there is not
deficiency Of single penny in the
amount supposed to be contained in the
vaults. r..